Process of and machine for perforating



NOV. 27 1923.

F. M. FURBER PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR PERFORAfI ING Filed April 19. 1920 K u M W W m HH N T m N 3 1 I I I I l Nov. 27, 1923. 1,475,181 F. M. FURBER PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR PERFORATING Filed April 19, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 70v l/E/V T47R- Filed April 19. 1920 F M FURBER PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR PERFORATING Nov. 27, 1926.

Patented Nov; 27, 1923 NI E STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FREDERICK M. FUBBER, 0F REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO v(TN'I'IEII'ID SHOE 'IMIACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,

NEW JERSEY.

a CORPORATION or PROCES OF AND MACHINE FOR PERFORATING.

Application filed A ril 19, 1920. Serial No. 375,021.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. FURBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Processes of and Machines for Perforating, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanymg drawings, is a specification, like,

reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

Tl'llS invention relates to the cutting of stock, such, for instance, as sheet material used in the manufactureof shoes, and is herein set forth by way of illustration with particular reference to its use in the production of-ornamental perforations in tips to be used as'parts of shoe uppers, though, of course, the invention is in no way limited to such use.

It is an object of the invention to cut stock in such a manner as to insure clean cut edges, free from ragged or frayed portions or other defects, and this with the elimination of the various disadvantages attendant upon the use of permanent cutting beds, such for example as those of wood or metal, and at the same time without the use of backing strips of paper or the like which, since they are consumed during the operation, represent a continuous and undesirable,

operating expense.

In one aspect the present invention contemplates an improved method of. cutting or perforating sheet material, including the positioning of a plurality of sheets, of material in a pile so that a sheet subsequently to be cut will itself serve as a cutting bed for a cutting operation performed upon other sheet material in the pile/Which is in con- .tact with this cutting bed, performing a cutting operation on said other sheet mate rial, and subsequently utilizing an adjacentpiece' of sheet material as a cutting bed while performing a cutting operation onthe first mentioned sheet. In the disclosed exemplification of my invention, two sheets of material may be placed'back to back and one c ut or,perforated while the other serves as a cutting bed. Thereafter the cut fresh sheet, and the sheet which previously served as a cutting. bed may be cut or perforated while the fresh sheet serves-as a cut ting bed.

In utilizing the invention in this manner it is, for many purposes, unnecessary to pro.

vide for an exceedingly nice regulation either of the position or of the depth of the cut. For instance, if the invention is utilized in perforating tips, the pieces of stock will be placed flesh side to flesh side, and such a slight penetration by the perfo rating tool 'into the flesh' side of the tip which serves as a cutting bed as will insure clea-n'cut perforations ,in the other tip will do no material harm, even though the perforations made lateron do not exactly coincide withthe above mentioned slight penetratlon. On the other hand, where such lack of coincidence is not permissible or Where anexact regulation of the depth of cut is essential, the invention may still'be utilized by paying due regard to these matters.

In one of its aspects my invention comprises a method of perforating or otherwise cutting stock in accordance with the foregoing.

In another aspect my invention provides an improved machine for cutting or perfo-' rating stock. Considered from this viewpoint, it isan object of my invention to provide a machine constructed and arran ed to 'cut or perforate pieces of stock w ile utilizing other pieces of stock as the cutting bed, said last'named pieces of stock being thereafter cut or perforated while fresh pieces serve as the cutting bed. i

A feature of the invention consists of the provision in such a machine of novel means 'for presenting pairs of pieces of stock to the cutting tool with their surfaces in contact so that one piece may serve as a cutting bed While the other is cut, either with or without the provision of means to reverse the position of the pieces of stockin relation to the cutting tool to facilitate the presentation of a series of pairs to the cutting tool. By such reversal, the piece which previously acted as a cutting bed will be brought into cutting relation to the tool while the fresh piece which replaces the cut piece will be in position then to serve as the cutting bed.

A further feature of my invention consists of the provision of a pair or a series of pairs of reversible grippers, each provided with a pair of individually pivoted mechanically operable clamping jaws to present the stock to and remove it from the cutting tool.

Other features of the invention consist of the provision of means operated in timed relation to a, cutting tool to open and close the clamping jaws of the grippers at a receiving and at a discharge E ation, and of means, exemplified as spring held plungers, to hold said clamping jaws closed except when under the influence of said opening means.

A further feature. of the invention consists of the provision of means, illustrated as a suction rapple, to transfer the-cut or perforated piece of stock fro-ni'the opened' With the above and other objects and.

features in view, the invention will now be described and explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims. It is to be noted, however, that the machine of the drawings is shown for illustrative purposes only, and that in certain aspects the invention is in no way limited thereto.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the major portion of the machine-with certain parts broken away and other parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the remainder of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing conveyor mechanism used to present the work to the perforating means and indicating its relation to the same;

Fig. 4 is a detail part of the driving mechanism for the conveyor;

Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side views, respectively, of counterbalance mechanism controlling the work receiving support;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 77 of Fig. 3; and i Fig. 8 is a detail view of an impositive latch for preventing undesired rotation of the work grippers.

The machine is provided with a main frame 10 having an upstanding portion 12 and with a main drive shaft 14. Attached to the main frame and extending to the right therefrom as viewed in Fig. 1 is a supplemental frame member 16.

The main frame is provided with a preferably removable sup ort for the cutting dies, these in the 1 ustrated machine comprising a row of tubular punch members 24 and a pinking die 26 of such conformation, as upon the operation of the machine, to form a row of perforations arallel to the edge of a tip and at the same tlme to pink the edge of the tip. These dies may conveniently be provided with the usual spring supported stripper 28 to insure the easy separation of the work therefrom after each cycle of operation of the machine. In co-operative relation to the dies and carried by a suitable guideway 30 of the main frame is .the co-operating tool part, in this case an adjustable plunger 32 suitably connected, as indicated in Fig. 1, to a crank member 34 of a shaft 36 arranged to be operatively connected to the main drive shaft 14, for instance by a Horton or other one-revolution clutch provided with 'a dog 38.

To present the work to the perforating or other cutting means the machine is provided with a rotary conveyor 40 pinned to and carried by a shaft 42 j ournaled in the supplemental frame member 16 and arranged-for limited vertical movement therein. A spring 44 surrounding the shaft 42 and housed within a sleeve 46 of the rotary conveyor bears at its lower end against the end of a sleeve 48 carried by the frame member 16 and so tends to hold the conveyor 40 and its shaft 42 at their extreme upper position.

Keyed to the shaft 42 for sliding movement relatively thereto and suitab y supported by the supplemental frame member 16 is a bevel gear 50 meshing with a bevel gear 52 carried by a shaft 54 suitably journaled in the main and supplemental frames. This shaft 54 is driven in timed relation to thelunger 30 in any suitable manner as by the intermittent grip device of Fig. 4 which receives its power through crank 56 from shaft 57 journaled in the main frame and connected as by a Horton clutch provided with a dog 58 to a ur gear 60 driven through a suitable tram of gearing from gear 62 on the main drive shaft. The intermittent grip device referred to may consist. of a connecting rod 64 journaled at one end on the crank pin 56and connected at its other end to a lever 66 fulcrumed on the shaft 54. Carried by the end of the connecting rod 64 remote from the crank pin 56 is a clutch member 68 co-operating with a-clutch disk 70 carried by shaft 54 and so arranged as to drive the shaft 54 step by step in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. This intermittent grip device and the gears 50 and 52 are so arranged that shaft 42 and the conveyor carried thereby are moved onequarter of a revolution for each reciprocation of the plunger 32. f

The conveyor 40 is illmrated as provided with four arms 80 each carry' a ripper 82 com rising a head 84 havin g ber el gear 86 'rigi ly connected therewith. A pair of clampin jaws 88 are carried by each grip per hea each jaw being pivoted as at 90 p to the head of a plunger 92 and being provided with a pain of fingers 96 e 'ng a pin 98 carried by the head 84, as own in Fig. 1, so'that upon endwise movement of the plunger 92, the jaw 88 will be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position, rotating approximately about the pin 90. Two

of the plungers 92, one for each g'ripper jaw of each clamp, are housed within each sleeve 100, one of these sleeves having asuitable bearing in each arm 80.0f the conveyor and being formed rigid with the gear 86 and head 84. A spring 102 surrounding each plunger 92 normally tends to hold the gripper jaws in approximately a horizontal position with the work clamped therebetween.

The work is thus resiliently supported for presentation to and for receiving the action of the tool parts. It will be evident, however, that upon a movement of a. plunger 92 away from the shaft 42 of the conveyor, the correspondin gripper jaw will be raised and long, as the will be he (1 so raised as long, and only 'as plunger is held in, its displaced POSlt-lOl'l.

The illustrated machine is provided with a loading station indicated at 104 and with a discharge station shown at 106 in Fig. 3 and the latter being shown more fully in elevation in Fig. 2. At these stations it is desirable to raise the upper gripper aw so that the work maybe placed in or removed from the conveyor. For this purpose the plunger 32 is provided with an mm 108 overhanging the conveyor 40 and prdvided at its end with a cam in the form of a cross-shaped projection 110 arranged to co-operate with asimilar depression at the upper end of sleeve 46 of the conveyor so that upon the downward movement of the plun er, the conveyor will. be corresponding y depressed. The projection 110 is made, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, with a taper so that, in co-operation with thedepression at the upper end of sleeve 46 it serves to insure the correct presentation of the stock to the perforating means as wellias to prevent undesired movement of the'stock during the perforating operation. .Pivote'd to each arm of the conveyor is a finger-112 so formedlis to contact with the end of the uppermost plunger 92. Adjacent to the receivin and discharging stations the s pplemental rame' is provided-with pins 0 I other suitable projections 114 positioned to co-operate with arms 116 of fingers 112 when the respective fingers'reach those positions with the result that the depression of the conveyor 40 rocks the finger 112 in such a manner as wthmst p unger 92 o ward against the action of spring 102 so as to 7 move the upper clamping jaw to the raised position of Fig. 7. When the gripper at the receiving station is in this condition, a piece of stock can be placed by the operative in position on the lower clamping jaw, a suitable work support 118 and an edge gage 120' being there provided to facilitate the correct placing of the work.

A gear segment 120 is rigidly supported as by a bracket 121 carried by. the frame member 16 in such a position as, in. co-operation with the bevel gears 86, to rotate each gripper through half a revolution as itpasses thereby. To prevent undesired rotation of the grippersat other times, each arm of the carrier carries an impositive latch,

mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 8. This mechanism comprises a bar 122 pressed against one of a pair of fiattened'portions 124 of the sleeve 100, as by suitable springs 126. Each bar 122 is shown as provided with a pair of pins 128 movable in guides- 130 carried by arms 80. The tension of springs 126 is such as to hold the bar 122 against the surfaces 124 with sufficient force to prevent any accidental rotation of the sleeve 100 and the gripper, but at the same time permits the rotation of the grippers when, during the rotation of the conveyor, a gear 86 comes into engagement with the rack 120.

Suitable mechanism, shown particularly in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, is provided for removing the finished work from the conveyorand stacking it at the discharging station, as

will be more\ fully hereinafter described.

, The illustrated machine by a rod 142 to a bell crank lever 144' fulcrumed at 146 to the main frame and proing a rise 158 in the path" of movement of' which is a roll'160 carried by a bell crank lever 162 pivoted at 164 to the main frame and connected at its other .end to a lever 166 also fulcrumed on the main frame and having an end 168 extending into thepath of movement of the clutch dog 38.

' Pivoted to the arm' 17 of bell crank lever 144 is a rod 172 carrying at its other end a spring-pressed latch'member 174 having a beveled end 176 co-operating with a similar shaped groove 178 formed around the shaft is controlled through a treadle 140 (see Fig. 1) connected 42 near its lower end. A spring 180 surrounding the stem 181 of latch member 174 tends to hold the beveled end of the latter in groove 178 so as to prevent upward move ment of shaft 42 and the conveyor.

When the treadle 140 is depressed the end 156 of lever 152 is withdrawn from contact with the clutch dog 58- whereupon the clutch operatively connects shaft 57 with gear 60 so that the conveyor is rotated a quarter of a revolution. The depression of.

the treadle also withdraws the end 176 of latch member 174 from groove 178 so that the conveyor 40 is free to rise, which it immediately doesunder the influence of spring 44. This, of course, results in the closing of the open gripper jaws and prevents any undesired movement of the work rela tive to the grippers. B the time that the rotary conveyor has ma e a quarter revoluclutch controlling the rotation of shaft 57 engages the roll 160 and rocks bell crank lever 162 so as to withdraw the end of lever 166 from clutch dog 38. This renders operative the clutch connecting shaft 36 with the main drive shaft and reciprocates plunger 32 to perforate orothertvise cut the work. The downward movement .of the plunger depresses the conveyor 40 so that the grippers which by the -movement of the conveyor have been brought to the receivin and discharging stations are 0 ned and t e conveyor is againlatched in its lower position by the engagement of latchmember 174 with groove 178. Upon the release of the treadle, spring 147 ensures the return of bell crank lever 144 and the parts associated therewith into such position that the shafts 57 and 36 eome to rest after each has made a single revolution.

The means for removing the finished work at the discharge station, as shown in Fig. 2,- comprises a suction grapple 200 formed at.

. ceiving a cord or cable 256 passing over pulleys 258 carried by a bracket 260 supported the lower end of an arm 202, the latter be' carried by a pair of links 204, 206, pivote to a standard 208. Rig-idly connected to link 204 is a bevel gear 210 meshing with a similar gear 212 carried at the end of a shaft 214 suitably j'ournaled in bearings carried by the main and supplementalframes; The end of the shaft 214 remote from thesuction grapple carries a pinion 216 meshing with a rack 218 mounted for sliding movement in guides carried by the mainframe andprovided at its lower end with a slotted arm' -220 the slot of which engages a crank pin 222-carried by shaft 57. The throw ofcrank pin 222 and the size ofinion216 are such-that-during each comp ete rotation'ofshaft 57, shaft 214 makes two result that the suction ite directions with the grapple200 is moved from the position of F1 2 into position to pick up a tip at the disc arging station and semi-rotations in op emma back again to carry it to a work support 224 carried by a plunger 225 and deposit it upon the top of the pile or stack formed thereon.

Suction for the grapple 200 may be provided in any suitable way as, for instance, by a pump 226 connected through a pipe 228 with an equalizing chamber 230 earned by or formed as art of the supplemental frame member 16. The chamber 230 is connected through a passage 232 with a valve 234 of any suitable form, the latter being' rovided with an arm 236 connected throug a link 238 with a 3-armed lever 240 fulcrumed at 242 to a bracket 244 carried by frame meme ber 16. The other arms of this 3-armed lever are provided each with an adjustable contact member such as a set screw 245 ositioned in the path of movement of the ink 204 so that as the suction grapple 200 reaches its position at either end of its path of movement, the lever-240 will be rocked and will correspondingly rock the arm 236 to open or close valve 234, as the case may be. The valve is so arranged that asthe suction grapple comes into contact with the tip carried by the gripper, the valve is opened and suction is applied to the grapple through suitable passageways indicated at 246, 248, 250 in Fi 2. Thus the tip is caused to adhere to t e grapple while the latter moves over and transfers the tipto the stack carried [by support 224. As the tip reaches the stack, arm 236 is swung back to cut oil the suction, the valve being so formed as at that time to open the passage 246 to by frame member 16, appropriate means such as a weight or weights 259 being attached to cord 256 to hold the support 224 in elevated position. A one-way catch 262 engaging plunger 225 rmits the support 224 to move downwar ly under the lnfluence of the pressure exerted by the suction grapple 200 indepositing a', tip on the stack but prevents upward movement thereof under the influence of weights 259 so that the top of the stack is at al times maintained in position to receive a tip.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of one blank or article to be per-,

forated or otherwise cut as a cutting bed for another similar article, that article which serves i'as a cutting bed bein later on perforated while a fresh article is used as a cutting bed. The described machine clamping-jaws of the adapted foruse in this manner, a pair of tips being carried back to back between the gripper to the perforating mechanlsm. he throw of the plunger of the latter is so adjusted that the perforating mechanism is caused to perforate the tip adjacent thereto and barely to penetrate the back of the'more remotetip. Thus the more remote tip acts as a cutting bed and serves to insure perforations of a high quality and with clean cut edges similar to those obtained with a paper backing strip. During the next cycle of operation of the machine, the gripper carrying the tip which has just been perforated is rotated through 180 by the engagement of its gear 86 with rack 120 and at the conclusion of still another cycle of opera tion is brought to the discharging station.

' It will be noted that the tip at the time of its perforation by the illustrated machine is the lower one of a pile but by the time it reaches the discharge station, the pile has discharge station and controlled by valve 234 in the same manner that .the suction of the grapple is controlled. When, now, the treadle is depressed to start another cycle .of operations, the open gripper at the discharge station is closed and that gripper moves to the receiving stationwith but a single tip held rthereln. 'Thls tip, however,

is one which has previously served as a cutting bed but as yet is unperforated. It

is, moreover, now in perforating position with its back or flesh side up. Thus the tip reaches the receiving station and, as the machine finishes the last mentioned cycle of operation, the gripper which is just reaching the receiving station is opened and the operative places a. new tip therein with its flesh side down. Upon further operation of the machine, the gripper is closed and these two tips move on to the punching position. The tip which has previously served as a cutting bed is now perforated while the new tip performs the function of the cutting bed.

. It is to be understood that in this specification the terms tip, flesh side, punch, pink, perforate, etc., are used in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense, and that it is intended that these terms shall have a broad range ofequivalents, limited only as may be required by the prior art, except Where in anyparticular case the contrary clearly apparent from the context. It IS evident, of course, that the work operated upon is not necessarily a tip and that only when the article is of leather will there be a flesh side.

The operation performed,

moreover, is not limited to perforating and inking, but may be cutting of other kinds. oreover, while the described machine is manually fed and controlled, it should be distinctly understood that this is for illustrative purposes only and that the invention and the appended claims are not to be construed as limited thereby.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by .Letters Patent of the United States isi which comprises the steps of placing two sheets of material with their surfaces in contact, cutting through the first sheet and part way through the second, placing a third sheet in contact with the out side of second sheet and part way third sheet. 2. The process of cutting sheet material which comprises placing two sheets of material with their surfaces in contact, erforming a cutting operation upon the sheet while utilizing the adjacent surface of the second sheet as a cutting bed to receive the thrust of the cutter, placing a third sheet of material'in contact with that face through said of the second. sheet-which previously re-' ceived the thrust of the cutter, and performing a cutting operation upon the second sheet while utilizing the adjacent surface of the third sheet to receive the thrust of the cutter.

3. The process of cutting sheet material which comprises successively positioning sheets of material to serve as cutting surfaces in receiving the. cutting edge of a cutter, and performing cutting operations upon successive sheets of mat erial, each of which has previously served as'a cutting surface, while each in; turn is" positioned with .that one of its surfaces which previously served as a. cutting surface in contacting relation with the surface of a fresh sheet. 7

4. The process of perforating which con sists in positioning two pieces of stock with their unfinished surfaces back to back and operating a perforating tool so as to perforate one of the pieces and slightly to penetrate the unfinished surface of the other piece which thereby acts as a backing.

said second sheet, andcutting through said rst 1. The process of cutting sheet material 5. The process of perforating which 0011- sists in positioning two piecesof stock back to back and operating a perforating tool'so as to perforate one of the pieces and slightly to penetrate the other piece, then placing the slightly penetrated piece and a fresh piece back to back and operating the perforating tool to perforate the previously-slightly pene- 'trated piece and slightly to fresh iece.

6. he process of perforating which consists in positioning two pieces of'stock with penetrate the their surfaces in contact and. operating a perforatin tool so as toperforate'one of the pieces an slightly to penetrate the other piece, then placing a fresh piece in contact with the cut side of the slightly penetrated.

piece and operating the perforating tool to perforate the previously slightly penetrated ting while utilizing a fresh blank as a, back-' mg 8. A machine for cutting sheet material for shoe parts having a cutting tool, means for supporting two pieces of stock with their flesh surfaces incontact and in operative relation to the cutting tool, and means for operating the cutting tool to cut all the way through one of the pieces of stock and slight- 1y into the flesh surface of the other piece.

9. In a machine for punching shoe parts, the combination of apunch and punch block, a conveyor arranged to carry a pair of pieces of stock arranged back to back, between the punch and punch block, and means relatively to reciprocate the punch and punch block to cut one of the pieces of stock while the other piece serves as a cutting bed.

10. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of a cutting tool. a gripper for holding two pieces-of stock with their surfaces in contact and presenting them to the cutting tool, and means for operating the cutting tool to cut through one of the pieces of stock and slightly into the other piece.

11. In a machine of the class described, a punch, apunch block, a conveyor for carrying two contacting pieces of stock between the punch and unch block, means for relatively moving t e punch and punch block to cut one of the pieces of stock while the other acts as .a backing, and means for reversing the ieces' of stock so that the piece that for- 'mer y served as a backing may subsequently be cut.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a punch, a movable carrier for said Punch, a conveyor having a grip-- per mounted thereon for. supporting two pieces of stock with their surfaces in contact and moving them into and out of operative relation to the punch in timed relation to the movement ofthe punch carrier, means to move the carrier to cause 'the punch 'to operate, and means to rotate the gripper through half arevolution after its'removal from operative relation ,tp the punch to reverse the position of the pieces of stock.

, 13. 'In a machine of the class described, the combination of apunch, a conveyor having a gripper mounted thereon for presenting and means to rotate the gripper through half a revolution to reverse the position ef the piece of stock.

15. In a perforating machine, the combination of a punch, a conveyor having a gripper mounted thereon for moving'pieces of stock to and from the punch, means to rotate the gripper through half a revolution to reverse-the position of the pieces of stock, and 1 an imposltive latch tendmg to prevent said rotation of the 'pper.

16. A machine of the class described hav- 7 ing, in combination, a rotary conveyor having provision for movement in the line of its axis, a plurality of grippers, each having a pair of" clamping aws mounted on said conveyor for rotation about axes radially thereof, and means-controlled by the movement of the conveyor in the line of its axis to move a clamping jaw of a gripper from clamping to releasing and from releasing to clamping position.

17, In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a tool for operating upon pieces of stock, a support, a sleeve journaled thereln, a gripper carried by the sleeve to transfer pieces of stock to and from the tool,

, and provided with a pair of pivoted clamping jaws, a latch arranged normally to maintain said sleeve and grippers in a determined relation to said tool, and means to rotate said sleeve and grippers through half a revolution to reverse the position of the pieces of stock.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of atool for operating upon pieces of stock, a support, a sleeve journaled therein, a gripper carried by the sleeve to transfer pieces of stock to and from the tool and provided with a pair of pivoted clamping jaws, and an impositive latch arranged normally to maintain said sleeve and grippers in a determined relation to said too 19. In a perforating machine, the combination of a punch, a support, a sleeve journaled in said support and having a flat surface formed on a portion of its circumference, a gripper carried by said sleeve and operable to transfer pieces of stock to and from said punch, a shoe carried by said support in contacting relation with said sleeve, and means for yieldingly pressing said shoe against the fiat surface of said sleeve impositively to hold said sleeve against rotacut through from the gripper while leaving tion with respect to said support.

. 20. In a machine of the class described the (combination of a shaft, a conveyor sup.- ported for longitudinal and rotary movement therewith, a gripper mounted on said conveyor. and provided with a movable clamping jaw, a plunger for moving said jaw, and a finger arranged to be operated by the longitudinal movement of the conveyor to press the plunger so that the latter moves said jaw fromflclamping position.

21. In a machine of the class described,

' a conveyor supported for longitudinal and rotary movement, a gripper mounted on said conveyor and provided with a. movable clamping jaw, and a plunger arranged to move said jaw from c lampi'ng position upon the longitudinal movement of theconveyor.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a punch provided with a reciprocable plunger, and a conveyor having a Pluralityof work holders for moving pieces of stock to and" from punching position, said plunger and said conveyor being provided with co-operating 'cam surfaces to control the accurate positioning of the stock relatively to the punch.

23, In a machine of the class described, the .combination of a punch provided with a reciprocable plunger, and a conveyor having a work holder for moving pieces of stock to 3nd from punching position, said plunger an meansto control the accurate positioning of the stock relativel to the punch, and to prevent movement ,0 the stock transversely of the punch during the operation of the latter.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a gripper for holding two pieces of stock with their surfaces in contact, a cutting tool, means for moving the gripper to present the pieces of stock to the cutting tool, means for operating the cutting tool to cut through one of ,the pieces of stock and slightly into the other piece, means for rotating the gripper through half a, revolutionto reverse the position of the two pieces of stock, and means for removsaid conveyor being provided with the other piece in the gripper.

26. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a main frame, a movable tool carrier mounted -on said frame,

relation to the cutting tool another gripper is in discharging position, and means con-' trolled by-the movement of said tool carrier for releasing one' of the jaws of the last named gripper to permit the discharge of a piece of stock therefrom. I a

27. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a main frame, a tool carrier, mounted for movement on said frame, means for operatively moving said carrier, a tool arranged to be operated by the movements of said carrier, a plurality of grippers each comprising a pair ofclamping jaws arranged to carry pieces of stock to and from said cutting tool and arranged so that. while one gripper is presenting stock in operative relation to "the cutting tool another gripperisin discharging position,

means controlled by the movement of-said tool carrier for releasing one of the jaws of the last named gripper, and means for removing a piece of stock from said lastnamed gripper.

said conveyor eachcomprising ing from the gripper the piece of stock the combination of a gripper for holding two pieces of stock with their surfaces in contact, a cutting tool, means for moving the gripper to present the pieces of stock to the cutting tool, means for operating the cutting tool to cut through one of the pieces of stock and slightly into th e'btherpie'ce, means for rotating the gripper'through half a revolution toreverse the position of the two pieces of stock, a suction grapple, and

I means for operating said suction grapple to transfer the piece of stock which has been 28. A machine of the class described having, in combination, .a cutting tool provided with a reciprocable veyor, a plurality o grippers mounted on a pair of pivoted clamping jaws, the aws of the plunger, a rotary conl grippers having plungers movable to swing the jaws into and out of clamping relation, a spring for each plunger tending to hold that plunger in clamping position, a gripper loading station, a gripper unloading station, means for rotating said conveyor to present the grippers successively to, the

loading station, the cutting tool and the unloading station, and means controlled by the reciprocation of the plunger of said cutting toolfor pressing a plunger of each gripper which at that time is at the loading station or at the unloading station against the action of its spring to swing a jaw of each said gripper out of clamping position.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a cutting tool provided with a reciprocable plunger, a rotary conveyor, a'plurality of grippers mounted on said conveyor for rotation about axes radial of said conveyor each comprising a pair of pivoted clamping jaws; the jaws ofthe grippers having plungers movable to swing the jaws into and out of clamping relation, a spring for each plunger tending to hold that plunger in clamping position, a gripper loading station, a gripper unloading station, means for rotating said conveyor to present the grippers successively to the loading station, the cutting tool and the unloading station, and means controlled by the reciprocation of the plunger of said cutting tool for pressing a plunger of each gripper which at that time is at the loading station or at the unloading station against the action of its spring to. swing a jaw of each said gripper out of clamping position.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a cutting tool provided with'a reciprocable plunger, a rotary oonveyor, a plurality of grippers, each comprising a pair of pivoted clamping jaws,

mounted on said conveyor for rotation about axes radial of said conveyor, the jaws Of the grippers having plungers movable to swing the jaws into and out of clamping relation, a spring for each plunger tending tohold that-plunger in clamping position, a gripper loading station, a gripper unloading station, means located adjacent to the path of the conveyor between the cutting tool and one of said stations for rotating 0 each gripper through halfa revolution as it passes thereby, means for rotating said conveyor to present the grippers successively-to the loading station, the cutting tool and-the unloading station, and means controlled by the reciprocation of the plunger of said cutting tool for pressing a plunger of each gripper which at that time is at the loading station or,at the unloading station against its spring to swing a jaw of each said gripper out of clamping position.

31. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a ain frame, a plunger mounted for slidin movement with respect thereto, means for reciprocating said plunger, a cutting'tool arran ed opposite the plunger to be operated by t e reciprocation of said plunger, a conveyor, and a plurality of grippers mounted on said conveyor, each comprising a pair of clamping jaws for ca ing pieces of stock to and from said cutting tool and arranged so that while one gripper is presenting stock 'in v bination of an operating tool, a movable caroperative relation to the cu'ttin tool, another gripper is at a loading station.

'32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a main frame, a tool carrier mounted for operating movement with respect thereto, means for operating said carrier, a tool arranged to be operated by the movement of said carrier, a plurality of grippers eachcomprising apair ofclamping jaws for carrying pieces of stock to and from said tooland arranged so that while one gripper is presentin stock inoperative lation to the tool, another gripper is at a for removing a Mamet 33. A machine of the class describedhaving, in combination, a main frame, a plunger mounted for sliding movement with respect thereto, means for reciprocating said plunger, a cutting tool arranged to be operated by the reciprocation of said plunger, a plurality of'grippers each comprising a pair of clamping jaws for carrying pieces of stock to and from said cutting tool and arranged so that while one gripper is presenting stock in operative relation to the cutting tool, another gripper is at a loading station, means controlled by the movement of said plunger for releasing one of the jaws of the last named gripper to permit the placing of a piece of stock on' the other jaw thereof, and a gage at said loading station for positioning the stock relatively to the last named gripper jaw.

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a main frame, a plunger mounted for sliding movement with respect thereto, means for reciprocating said plunger, a cuttingtool arranged to be operated by the reciprocation of said plunger, a

plurality of grippers each comprising a palr in operative relatlon to the cutting tool another gripper is in discharging position,

mean s controlled by the movement of said plunger for releasing one of. the jaws of the last named gripper, and asuction grapple piece of stock from said last named gripper.

35. In a machine of the class described, a relatively movable punch block and punch, a conveyor having fixed and movable jaws for gripping the work, means for actuating the conveyor to carry the work between the punch and punch block, and means operated the relative movement of said punch b ock and punch for actuating said movable aws. 1

36. In a perforating machine, the com rier therefor, a conveyor arranged to feed pieces of stock to and from the tool, a support for pieces of stock, a grapple, and

mechanism arranged to move" the tool carrier grapple "arranged to transfer the pieces of stock from the conveyor to the support. M

38. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a perforating tool, a con- 6 veyor, a gripper mounted thereon for carrying pieces of stock to and from the perforat-.

ing tool, a support for a pile of piecesof stock, and a suction grapple arranged to transfer the pieces of stock from the gripper of the conveyor to the support. a

40. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a support carried thereby, a one-way latch permitting the plunger to move downwardly but restraining it flOlIL upward movement, means tending to move the plunger upward against the resistance of said latch, a punch, and means to transfer stock from the punch to said sup port. r a 41. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a support car'- plunger to move downwardly but restrainmg it from upward movement, rdeans tending to move the plunger upward against the resistance of said latch, a punch, and a eratedupon by said'punch to said support. a 42. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a plunger, a support car'- ried thereby, means tending to move the plunger upward, a punch, and a grapple to transfer stock which has been operated upon by said punch to said support. -43. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a suction grapple, a valve for controlling the suction of said 7 grapple, means for moving said grapple to transfer stock carried thereby from one position to another,a lever for opening and closing said valve, and a member inthe path of movement of a part moving with said grapple and operatively connected to said lever to 0 an and close said valve in accordance with t e position of said grapple.

' 44. In amachine of the class described, the

combination of a conveyor for carrying pieces of stock in pairs from an operating mechanism to a discharge station, and suction mechanism operating on'both sides of the pair of pieces to separate one of them from the other.

45. In a machine of the class described,

mechlnism for separating a pair of blanksheld in surface contact comprising a suction device operating to hold one of the I blank; against a support and a movable ried thereby, a one-way latch permitting the grapple to transfer stock which has been opsuction device to carry the other blank away from the first.

46. The process of perforating which consists in placing a pair of blanks with their surfaces in contact, punching one blank while ptilizing the second blank as a backing, reversing said second'bl'ank and then punching it.

47. The process of cutting sheet material, which consists in placing a plurality of sheets of material i. a pile, and performing cutting operations upon the endmost sheets of the pile while utilizing as a cutting bed w for each. cutting operation the sheet adjacent to the end 'sheet upon which that cutting operation is being performed.

48. Theprocess of cuttin sheet material which comprises the steps 0 placing a pluf rality of sheets of materialin apile, cutting through one of the outside sheets of the pile while using the adjacent sheet as a cutting bed to receive the thrust of the cutter and subsequently cutting through the other outside sheet and using an adjacent sheet as a cuttin bed.

ralit'y of slieets of material arranged in a pile which consists in presenting the pile of said sheets to .an operating tool, causing said tool to operate upon one or more of the sheets and then reversing the pile ofssheets for a further operation. n I

50. The procbss. of operating upon a plurality of sheets of material arranged in a pile which consists in presenting said pile to an operating tool, causing said tool to operate on one or more of saidsheets, removin from said pile the sheet or sheets whic have been operated-oil by the tool, placing a sheet or sheets inv the position occupie by those which have been removed, and returning the pile to the operating tool in positionrfor the tool to operate upon a sheet constituting part of the original pile which was not operated iipon by the said tool in the first operation, a

51. The process of perforating which consists in positioning two pieces of stock back to back, operatin a perforating tool to perforate one of sai pieces while utilizing the other piece as a cutting bed, replacin the perforated piece with a fresh piece an presenting said pieces to the tool for operation upon that piece which first served as a, cutting bed whilethe fresh piece now serves as a cutting bed. 0

52. In a machine of the class described, a relatively movable punch block'and punch, a conveyor having relatively movable jaws for gripping the work, means for actuating the conve or to carry the work between the punch an punch block, and means operated by the relative movement of the punc rocess of operating upon-a plu-' block.

certain coacting jaws of said conveyor.

53. In a machine of the clam described, a work conveyor movable to bring the work to a plurality of stations, a pair of work holding gripper jaws, means for movably supporting said gripper jaws on said conveyor constructed and arranged to allow movement of the gripper jaws toward and away from each other and to permit the position of said jaws to be interchanged so as to reverse the position ofthe work held by the jaws. Y

54. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of operating stations, a conveyor constructed and arranged to carry the work from one station to another, a pair of cooperating gripper jaws pivoted to said conveyor for movement toward and away from work held therebetween and means arranged to open one of said jaws at one station and another of said jaws at another station.

' 55. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of operating stations, a conveyor constructed and arranged to carry the work from one station to another, a g ipper head rotatably mounted on said conve or, a pair of co-operating gripper jaws pivotally mounted on said head for movement toward and away from work held therebet-ween means for-rotatin said head to interchange the position of t e work, and means for opening a jaw to receive or release the work.

56. In a machine of the class described,

co-o-perating tool parts, and means for presenting work to said tool parts comprising a pair of co-ope'rating gripper jaws pivptally mounted for movement toward and away from work held therebetween, and resilient means urging each jaw toward the other whereby the work is resiliently supported for receiving the action of the tool parts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. FREDERICK M. FURBER. 

